Patriots Meriweather may be questioned in shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. – Police in Orlando want to talk to New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather about a shooting that injured two men outside a bar near his hometown, authorities said Thursday.

The 27-year-old player was at the shooting in the early morning hours of Feb. 28 in Apopka, Fla., Orange County Sheriff's department spokesman Capt. Angelo Nieves said at a news conference.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Nieves said 24-year-old Quentin Taylor and 23-year-old Nico Stanley were both injured. Taylor was shot in the face and Stanley was grazed by a bullet.

The spokesman said there was some sort of altercation before the shooting and that an attorney who says he represents Meriweather would like to set up an interview. So far it hasn't been scheduled.

No charges have been filed.

Nieves wouldn't go into details but said, "there was some activity, something that occurred, some discourse or disagreement or altercation that occurred at (the bar) that precipitated the incident."

Meriweather graduated from Apopka High School in 2002 and played college football at the University of Miami. He was drafted in first round of the 2007 draft by the Patriots and completed his fourth NFL season in 2010.

Taylor was interviewed by detectives on Wednesday for the first time. Stanley spoke to investigators on Monday, according to the sheriff's office. Nieves said that the time lapse was because the men needed time to recover from their injuries.

A message left with Adam Swickle, whom the Orlando Sentinel reported was representing Meriweather, was not returned.

The Patriots released a brief statement, which was posted on their team website.

"We are aware of the reported allegation, but do not have any additional information," the statement said.

This isn't the first time Meriweather's name has been mentioned in regard to a violent incident.

In October 2006 while still at Miami, he was part of an on-field fight with several Florida International players.

About three months earlier, he shot at an assailant who had shot Miami backup safety Willie Cooper outside the house Cooper shared with Meriweather and another teammate, police said. Meriweather wasn't charged and police said he used the gun legally.